In Memoriam: 3 August 2018

The following is a weekly listing of Nazarene ministers and leaders who recently went home to be with the Lord. Notices were received 30 July — 3 August 2018.

Lois (Friley) Allen, 86, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away 30 July. She was the wife of retired minister Robert Allen, who served in Kansas, Arkansas, Oregon, California, Washington, and Nevada.

Penny Brown, 74, of Marshall, Illinois, passed away 29 July. She was a retired minister, serving in Illinois. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Brown, in 2007.

Peter Burkhart, 91, of Danville, California, passed away 1 August. He was a retired minister and missionary, serving in Washington and Idaho, as well as Guyana and the Philippines. He was preceded in death by his wife, Meryle (Carrier) Burkhart, in April 2017. (story)

Christine Frances Carpenter, 94, of Yukon, Oklahoma, passed away 29 July. She was a minister and educator, serving in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

Richard Fisher, 76, of West Harrison, Indiana, passed away 28 July. He was a retired minister, serving in Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Velma (Woods) Fisher.

Esther Nielson, 89, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, passed away 28 July. She was the widow of Joseph Nielson, a retired minister and educator who served in Ohio and Illinois. Esther was in pastoral service in Ohio and Illinois. Joseph Nielson passed away in April 2018.

Bob McGinty, 89, of McRae, Arkansas, passed away 2 August. He was a retired minister and evangelist, serving in Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Reva McGinty, in 2011.

Virgil Rayborn, 99, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away 27 July. He was a retired minister, serving in California. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alvina Rayborn, in 2003.

Christopher Sies, 46, of Pekin, Illinois, passed away 31 July. He was a minister, serving as campus pastor for Bridgeway Community Church – Marquette Heights. He is survived by his wife, Christy.

For previous editions of In Memoriam, see the "Passings" section by clicking here.

Note: Please join us in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones. Click on names for full stories, funeral information, local online obituaries, and/or guest books (if available). To submit an entry of a minister or church leader, send to news@nazarene.org.

About Us

The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.5 million members worshipping in more than 30,000 local congregations in 162 world areas.